The sky was still dusky and the birds were yet to rise as my taxi sped out of Georgetown to take me up the winding road to the Tropical Spice Garden. Where a morning feast of sunrise Jazz was to be my last activity in Penang. A nervous excitement coursed through my veins as i made my way up the hill to the venue, “was there going to be anyone else there?” “Who else gets up at this time for music on a Saturday morning?!” By 7am i was perched on a chair ready with a snack and a drink ready to soak up some jazz as the day broke.
Ashes & Oak Trees at the Penang Island Jazz Festival Sunrise session 2014
The audience was relatively small to start with, maybe 35 or so people. Growing as the sets went on and people woke up. There must have been at least 100 people by the end of the final set. It was a very relaxed setting in an open and airy space set at the top of the hill, nestled in the heart of the garden. With a casual breeze flowing through from the nearby sea. The first act was a young duo called Ashes & Oak Trees singing a mixture of their own songs and some old classics.
The second act was a family group called the De Leon Jazz
The De Leon Jazz Experience at the Penang Island Jazz Festival Sunrise session
Experience, made up of two young sons and their father. An extremely talented bunch, swapping between a vast number of instruments, from Cello, Violin, electric drums (i think that’s what its called!), piano and saxophone with great ease. Mostly instrumental apart from one final Christmas song where they roped their mother in for her first ever performance with them. Which again was very emotional, what a brave lady! You wouldn’t catch me doing that.
Ray Rozells at the Penang Island Jazz Festival Sunrise session
The final performer was a local legend Ray Rozzells, and a real live wire. I think they had to leave him to last to make sure everyone was awake enough for him! He was blast of energy, jokes and banter with the crowd. Peppered with the odd rockstar jump! He’s a very charismatic and funny guy as well as being a talented singer. His set really touched a nerve as when the classics started coming, the tears started flowing. I had goosebumps. The setting while reminiscing about some of the wonderful times that i had in Asia, pondering what laid ahead all collided for a very emotional start to the morning (in a good way!) I got you under my skin, That old black magic, It had to be you and Sunday morning are all now firmly ensconced on the Afeedertravels playlist.
I was high on life when i left the tropical spice gardens that morning, i was very sad to be leaving Penang after such a wonderful 24 hours. But i knew i would be back to enjoy it some more in good time with good company. So i was focusing my energy on being excited about what was coming next when i spotted a rainbow over the sea (again!) as the bus pulled away from Batu Ferringhi beach. It’s a sign…
An incredibly happy and content cake lady, pleased as Punch that she stayed in Penang for longer but ready to settle down for a bit now. Off to catch a bus to Kuala Lumpur, like you do…
Baci a tutti
x x x x
